The industry is developing rapidly, bringing numerous economic benefits, but at the same time, this development has resulted in a large amount of waste and wastewater. Industrial wastewater can contain various hazardous substances that pose a threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is important to properly treat wastewater before discharging it into the environment. One effective method for treating industrial wastewater is the use of activated carbon. Activated carbon is an adsorbent that efficiently removes many hazardous substances and chemicals from wastewater, such as heavy metals, radioactive substances, organic compounds, microorganisms, and others. The main advantages of using activated carbon include low production costs, synthesis from organic waste, applicability to treating wastewater with complex composition, variable concentration, and quantity of water, ease of use and maintenance, as well as the regeneration of activated carbon, which is important in terms of the circular economy. The aim of this thesis is to review the available literature on the use of activated carbon for treating industrial wastewater. We will focus primarily on its production, characterization, mechanisms of action in treatment processes, and provide an overview of substances that can be effectively removed using activated carbon and how it can be applied in industrial practice to reduce environmental impact and meet legislative requirements.
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